I Am Maggie

About the Book

Mama helped with the typing, but these are my stories about my puppy years. You will read about animals I befriended, happy times on the trails, and times when I was in trouble or scared by lightning, rattlesnakes, bees, and rain beetles to name a few. I have left the fence line unguarded too long now so I have to take off. Mama can continue from here. When Maggie joined our family, we hoped she would fill the void left by the loss of our first dog, Toots. We wanted a dog to be an ambassador on the trail, to love snow and water play, and to get along with other animals and people. At first, Maggie and Toots seemed like polar opposites. Ultimately, love proved to be the defining similarity and Maggie was so much more than a replacement. It has been an honor to share Maggie’s first years, and now with the arrival of two grandchildren, there is so much joy seeing her welcome Eve and Eli into our pack and our lives.

About the Author

Debbi Preston started hiking with her dog Toots in 2003 and together they enjoyed exploring trails and looking for new places to visit. Toots taught her to read the trails, explore, and enjoy the journey. These experiences led to the publishing of 48 Dog-Friendly Trails in California’s Foothills and the Sierra Nevada and Dog-Friendly Trails for All Seasons. After losing Toots, Preston decided to write a book to honor her. This coincided with the strong desire for a new four-legged hiking partner and the search was on, ultimately with the arrival of Maggie into the Preston’s family. After finishing Toots’ book, “Tails” from the Trails, Preston started to keep a journal and write a book in Maggie’s voice. Preston also realized that with the new puppy they were exploring trails not in the previous books and not doing some older ones, resulting in 57 Dog-Friendly Trails in California’s Foothills and the Sierra Nevada, with Maggie on the cover. Maggie’s book, I am Maggie, explores a dog’s need to find her place in a family while forming her own unique personality. With the announcement of a new baby girl’s arrival, the story had to continue into the next chapter. Little did Preston know that not only for Maggie would there be a new purpose in life with the birth of Eve and then with Eli, but for Preston now as Gramma a completely new adventure awaited. Preston says, “I never imagined the wonderful new experiences ahead for me. Always live life to the fullest, embrace the opportunities that come your way, and enjoy the journey.”